Democrats could secure new aid for Ukraine and override Trump's veto
US President Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
Overnight on November 4, the US Democratic Party won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections. Starting in January, Democrats will decide which issues come up for a vote and could approve a new aid package for Ukraine, Reuters reports.
US President Donald Trump has largely suspended financial and military assistance to Ukraine, despite broad support for US aid among both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
Trump recently angered members of Congress, including many Republicans, by lifting sanctions on Russian diesel fuel and the broader Russian energy sector just weeks after signing the relevant legislation.
Now, as Reuters explains, with control of both chambers shifting to Democrats in January, they can decide which issues to bring to a vote and when. This could allow them to approve new aid for Ukraine and, most likely, secure the two-thirds majority needed to override a Trump veto.
"Democratic aides have said assisting Kyiv is a priority," the news agency reports.
In addition, Democrats may target other Trump policies. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York who is likely to become chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at blocking Trump's plan to return Russian diesel fuel to the global market.
"While the final size of the Democratic majorities has not been determined, backing for Ukraine has been so strong in the past from both that party and many of Trump's Republicans that Congress may be able to muster majorities large enough to override a Trump veto," Reuters added.
Other essential details to know
On November 3, the United States held midterm elections to Congress. As polling stations closed and votes were counted, it became clear that the Democratic Party was taking control of both chambers of Congress from Republicans.
Shortly afterward, US President Donald Trump acknowledged the election results and pledged to work with Democrats. At the same time, he claimed that Republicans would have won by a wide margin if his name had been on the ballot.
Trump also acknowledged that the war with Iran was responsible for rising gasoline prices, although he had previously claimed that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries were to blame.
